RENEWED VISION A Fresh Start The goal of church revitalization strives for a renewed vision to fill the hearts and minds of a church so that the church can have a fresh start.
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his renewed vision can often be an incremental change that has a ripple effect throughout the church. Other times, God can call the church to rethink its mission and relaunch with an entirely new approach. Two churches in our 2019 revitalization cohort chose the path of renaming their church and relaunching under a renewed mission.
I can’t wait to see what God has in store‌
Pastor Shevi Sloane of Third Avenue Church, in Danville, had struggled to reach the changing community. Third Avenue had a traditional sanctuary that would seat 800 and a large educational and administrative wing capable of accommodating hundreds. The church was built to suit a different time and era in the history of Danville. The cost of facility upkeep and the struggle of the church to reach the community led to a fresh vision. The local congregation at Third Avenue Church believed that God could lead another work to use this large facility that would be more aligned to reach the community. In years prior, Third Avenue had been led to purchase land in Danville. They had already built a pavilion on the property and believed that one day they may relocate the church. At the beginning of 2019, the reality of relocation was becoming an agreed upon vision of the church. Within one year, God allowed the church to sell their building to another ministry better suited to reach this community.
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